This review paper provides an overview of the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition’s (SACN’s) report ‘Feeding young children aged 1 to 5 years’. The purpose of the report was to (1) review the scientific basis of current recommendations for feeding children aged 1 to 5 years, (2) consider evidence on developmental stages and other factors that influence eating behaviour and diversification of the diet in the early years and (3) make recommendations for policy, practice and research. This report was based on a comprehensive assessment of the systematic review (SR) literature and also evidence provided by the Diet and Nutrition Survey of Infants and Young Children and the National Diet Nutrition Survey. Dietary survey data indicated that the diets of children aged 1 to 5 years in the UK did not meet current dietary recommendations for several nutrients. Intakes of energy, free sugars and protein exceeded recommendations, while dietary fibre intakes were below the recommended level for this age group. Children from lower socio-economic status households or from certain ethnic groups may be at risk of inadequate intakes of Fe, Zn, vitamin A and vitamin D. SR evidence indicated that in children aged 1 to 5 years, higher free sugars intake is associated with increased dental caries, higher consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages is associated with increased risk of overweight/obesity and higher child BMI is associated with higher risk of adult overweight/obesity. Based on the evidence, SACN has made recommendations to improve the diets of young children in the UK.

The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) provides independent advice on nutrition and related health matters to UK government organisations. In keeping with its commitment to openness and transparency, SACN follows a set ‘Framework’ to ensure a prescribed and consistent approach is taken in all its evidence evaluations. Following an update of the SACN Framework in 2020, which addressed some straightforward issues, the SACN Framework subgroup was established in 2021 to consider more complex matters that were not addressed in the 2020 update. The SACN Framework subgroup considered four main topics for update: (1) the different types of evidence evaluations produced by SACN, (2) interpretation of statistical data, (3) tools for assessment of study quality and (4) tools to assess the certainty of a body of evidence for exposure–outcome relationships. The Framework subgroup agreed clear definitions and processes for the different types of evidence evaluations produced by SACN and agreed that interpretation of P values should be informed by consideration of study size, power and methodological quality. The subgroup recommended use of the AMSTAR 2 tool for quality assessment of evidence from systematic reviews and use of the Grading of recommendations, assessment, development and evaluation approach to assess the certainty of evidence. The updated Framework was published in January 2023. This was followed by publication of a further update in October 2024. As a ‘living’ document, the Framework will be subject to regular review by the Framework subgroup and continue to evolve in line with best practice.